Keith
The best camera is one that still works!
Ever since I discovered the allure of the OM range I’ve viewed the mainstay of the system as being the OM-1. I have a couple of OM-2s and an OM-4 but have always found the OM-1 to be the camera that suited me the best … simple with match needle metering and that amazingly large, clear viewfinder. I won’t go into the qualities of Zuiko lenses because we know they are more than good enough and lens preferences are very subjective IMO. I also won’t discuss the ergonomics of the OM body because you either like it or you don’t … the killer for many people appears to be the placement of the shutter speed dial … personally it suits me though I can understand why others don’t find it so ideal.
In spite of being very content with my OM-1 I have bought other OM bodies out of curiosity over the last couple of years to see how they sat with me. The OM-2 while a fine and remarkably inexpensive camera never really grabbed me … I’m not someone who uses AE a lot and the meter readout when shooting manually seems a little dinky after an OM-1 though I know it’s not really. There’s just more information there than I felt I needed and both the OM-2s I own seem to have metering that drifts slightly as the batteries deplete … this could be my imagination of course. I decided that it would be nice to try spot metering so bought an OM-4 … not only was it a disappointment but the example I bought has a serious metering issue and requires almost two stops of compensation by fudging the ISO setting to get accurate exposures. I originally intended sending it to Camtech in the US for a CLA and to sort out the metering but decided I didn’t really like the camera enough to justify the cost so it sits in the cupboard unused.
Throughout this process I’ve often read and thought about the OM-3 as possibly being my ideal camera but couldn’t get my head around the prices being asked for them. They weren’t produced in the same numbers as other OMs and seem to have that collector factor that afflicts a lot of cameras in this position. The OM-3 for the uninitiated is non battery dependant with a manual shutter that runs to 1/2000. The battery is solely there for the metering which has the option of spot or centre weighted and a subtle but excellent LCD readout is provided in the bottom of the viewfinder … there is an illumination button which is easily accessed with a fingertip without having to change your grip or take the camera away from your eye when shooting in low light. Without a battery it operates exactly as an OM-1 aside from the extra stop of shutter speed. One very noticeable bonus for me is the dioptric adjustment of the viewfinder … I wear contact lenses and my vision tends to vary slightly with changes in humidity and a perfectly sharp finder is only a click away when this happens.
Cutting to the chase, a near mint OM-3 at a very reasonable price appeared in the RFF classifieds a few months ago from someone I trust and have dealt with previously so I made the decision to buy it knowing that it wouldn’t be hard to sell if I didn’t get along with it. Initially I was disappointed because it felt so different to my beloved OM-1 and the fixed hot shoe and different prism housing shape change the svelte minimalist look of the camera somewhat. Also the film advance felt harsh compared to my OM-1 courtesy of the steel gears not to mention my well worn OM-1 was serviced by Camtech a year or two ago and has a particularly slick advance. After a couple of rolls of film it went into the cupboard and I continued to use my OM-1 thinking I may have wasted a substantial chunk of cash for a camera I didn’t really like or need … or certainly didn’t like in comparison to the said OM-1. A few weeks ago I decide to give it another try and I have to say after numerous rolls of film I’m now finally converted. I use it exactly the same way I used my OM-1 where the meter is secondary and I tend to judge exposures based on sunny 16 provided the conditions are predictable. When they aren’t I have that amazing spot meter at my disposal not to mention the extra shutter speed which is very useful when shooting outdoors with a fast lens. It’s only one stop but I find myself constantly using that 1/2000. In summation I would describe the OM-3 as a souped up OM-1 with corresponding appeal to the purist who appreciates minimalism and build quality in a good SLR.
When you really like a particular camera design you often find yourself in the position where one particular model will become your personal ‘Holy Grail’ and that’s what the OM-3 became to me. The trouble with ‘Holy Grails’ is they often don’t live up to expectations and when you finally stumble over one at the right price you’re faced with the situation where you’re forced to rationalise your purchase by telling yourself what a great camera it is even though you really know little about it and how well it will suit you in the long term.
The OM-3 has now become my go to OM and is my first choice of camera for most situations when shooting 135 film. The camera was worth every cent of its price in my opinion … but what about my OM-1? That beautiful little black SLR will always be my most loved OM and SLR overall on an emotional level because of what it represents … Maitani’s genius child and nothing can detract from that. However … it now has to take second place in functionality to what I regard as the perfect OM and definitely the best SLR I have ever used.
In spite of being very content with my OM-1 I have bought other OM bodies out of curiosity over the last couple of years to see how they sat with me. The OM-2 while a fine and remarkably inexpensive camera never really grabbed me … I’m not someone who uses AE a lot and the meter readout when shooting manually seems a little dinky after an OM-1 though I know it’s not really. There’s just more information there than I felt I needed and both the OM-2s I own seem to have metering that drifts slightly as the batteries deplete … this could be my imagination of course. I decided that it would be nice to try spot metering so bought an OM-4 … not only was it a disappointment but the example I bought has a serious metering issue and requires almost two stops of compensation by fudging the ISO setting to get accurate exposures. I originally intended sending it to Camtech in the US for a CLA and to sort out the metering but decided I didn’t really like the camera enough to justify the cost so it sits in the cupboard unused.
Throughout this process I’ve often read and thought about the OM-3 as possibly being my ideal camera but couldn’t get my head around the prices being asked for them. They weren’t produced in the same numbers as other OMs and seem to have that collector factor that afflicts a lot of cameras in this position. The OM-3 for the uninitiated is non battery dependant with a manual shutter that runs to 1/2000. The battery is solely there for the metering which has the option of spot or centre weighted and a subtle but excellent LCD readout is provided in the bottom of the viewfinder … there is an illumination button which is easily accessed with a fingertip without having to change your grip or take the camera away from your eye when shooting in low light. Without a battery it operates exactly as an OM-1 aside from the extra stop of shutter speed. One very noticeable bonus for me is the dioptric adjustment of the viewfinder … I wear contact lenses and my vision tends to vary slightly with changes in humidity and a perfectly sharp finder is only a click away when this happens.
Cutting to the chase, a near mint OM-3 at a very reasonable price appeared in the RFF classifieds a few months ago from someone I trust and have dealt with previously so I made the decision to buy it knowing that it wouldn’t be hard to sell if I didn’t get along with it. Initially I was disappointed because it felt so different to my beloved OM-1 and the fixed hot shoe and different prism housing shape change the svelte minimalist look of the camera somewhat. Also the film advance felt harsh compared to my OM-1 courtesy of the steel gears not to mention my well worn OM-1 was serviced by Camtech a year or two ago and has a particularly slick advance. After a couple of rolls of film it went into the cupboard and I continued to use my OM-1 thinking I may have wasted a substantial chunk of cash for a camera I didn’t really like or need … or certainly didn’t like in comparison to the said OM-1. A few weeks ago I decide to give it another try and I have to say after numerous rolls of film I’m now finally converted. I use it exactly the same way I used my OM-1 where the meter is secondary and I tend to judge exposures based on sunny 16 provided the conditions are predictable. When they aren’t I have that amazing spot meter at my disposal not to mention the extra shutter speed which is very useful when shooting outdoors with a fast lens. It’s only one stop but I find myself constantly using that 1/2000. In summation I would describe the OM-3 as a souped up OM-1 with corresponding appeal to the purist who appreciates minimalism and build quality in a good SLR.
When you really like a particular camera design you often find yourself in the position where one particular model will become your personal ‘Holy Grail’ and that’s what the OM-3 became to me. The trouble with ‘Holy Grails’ is they often don’t live up to expectations and when you finally stumble over one at the right price you’re faced with the situation where you’re forced to rationalise your purchase by telling yourself what a great camera it is even though you really know little about it and how well it will suit you in the long term.
The OM-3 has now become my go to OM and is my first choice of camera for most situations when shooting 135 film. The camera was worth every cent of its price in my opinion … but what about my OM-1? That beautiful little black SLR will always be my most loved OM and SLR overall on an emotional level because of what it represents … Maitani’s genius child and nothing can detract from that. However … it now has to take second place in functionality to what I regard as the perfect OM and definitely the best SLR I have ever used.